Electric cooperative line crews restored early outages caused by Hurricane Matthew but were called in as Matthew’s torrential rain and heavy winds made conditions unsafe for linemen. The cooperatives expect for restoration efforts to continue before first morning light. Crews will contend with navigating treacherous, flooded roads and clearing debris before they can begin the work of making repairs to the system.

Electric cooperative crews from heavily impacted areas are being supported by their peers from the western part of the state, as well as Virginia and Maryland. Together, these crews will work as quickly and safely as possible to restore power to all cooperative members, an effort that is expected to extend for several days or more.

Cooperative members are thanked for their patience, and are reminded to only use generators and charcoal grills in well-ventilated areas; a garage does not count as a well-ventilated areas. Never touch a downed power line, and remember that sometimes debris can cover fallen lines, making them difficult to spot.

North Carolina’s 26 electric cooperatives collectively serve approximately 2.5 million people in 93 of the state’s 100 counties.Six electric cooperatives serve 16 North Carolina beaches, and many more serve hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses in other parts of eastern North Carolina.